Lake Forest to begin booting parking ticket scofflaws

Come New Year's Day, some parking ticket scofflaws in Lake Forest can expect to find their vehicles sporting a pricey new accessory -- a wheel boot.

The North Shore community, struggling in the faltering economy like so many others, could recoup as much as $21,000 if the top 16 parking ticket desperadoes paid up, said Deputy Police Chief Glenn Burmeister.

"We are looking for every penny, and some of those funds are in unpaid parking tickets," he said.

One driver racked up $3,030 in unpaid tickets and fines, according to Burmeister, who said a typical parking ticket in Lake Forest costs $15.

The metal boot immobilizes a vehicle by locking a wheel. Once a car has been booted, the owner will have to pay all fines as well as a $100 fee to get the device removed.

Those on the clamping end of the so-called Denver boot may not be in favor of the plan, but at least one resident doesn't have any issues with it.

"They do it in Chicago," said Steve Cohen. "I guess you've got to get revenue any way you can."

Libertyville and Schaumburg already use the boot to great success, according to police there.

"Without question," many in Schaumburg weren't eager to settle their parking tickets, said Police Sgt. John Nebl.

But in the mid-1990s, the village began a boot policy that has worked well, he said. Officials recently reduced to three from five the number of unpaid tickets necessary to render a vehicle "boot eligible."

In Libertyville, Deputy Police Chief Bob Koval said they have had to boot vehicles only sparingly, but when they do, payment usually follows promptly.

In Lake Forest, drivers were given a grace period until the end of this month to pay their tickets and have late fees waived.